Major structural repairs and upgrade works are needed on the buildings located on the pier and following an area committee meeting earlier this month, funding was agreed for the initial stages of the redevelopment.
The local authority has said it will work alongside the community for the initiative to not only save the historic structure in the immediate term, but also to look at the ways in which it can be developed for business, cultural and leisure use in the longer term.
The committee has agreed to provide funding to secure the substructure of the pier, as well as the refurbishment of two of the buildings. The buildings will be the main waiting room and the harbour master's building.
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The substructure work will be carried out as part of Phase 1A work and is expected to be completed by the end of the financial year. It will include strengthening the southern arm of the pier and repairs to the timber piles which are decaying. Repairs, or upgrades where needed, will also be carried out to the timber cross bracing and the longitudinal ties below the high water level.
The redevelopment of the decking and buildings will be part of Phase 1B and will involve lifting, repairing and replacing the current decking beams. Work to repair the hand railing is also highlighted in the plans, while essential structural and building repairs will be carried out to the harbour masters building and waiting room. This will allow an internal refit as part of the longer term project. There are also proposals to install pier to shore foul drainage to service the waiting room building and erecting a barrier to prevent public access to the parts of the pier which are set to be repaired under Phase 2 of the project.
The Council has said it will look at further funding at a national level to complete the long-term ambition of fully restoring the pier and its historic buildings.
(JP/MH)
